Hofstadter commits a comman fallacy: the new technology can't mimic the way human does it, so the machine can't do it. *BZZZT* I know numerous engineering examples, from the Space Shuttle to chemical plants, where the "dumb" computer, uttlerly lacking intuition, outperforms the human.
All that cognition isn't always a benefit: it also makes more mistakes possible. A "dumb" driving algorithm might actually be safer because (1) it doesn't get tired, (2) it doesn't make erroneous assumption, (3) it's performance won't be degraded by emotional state.....
I know the dood who did the Linux port. (yeah - it's one person). He's been a slashdotter for years - so just post the bug report to/. (or email me), he'll see it, and the bug will get fixed pronto. Of course, there will still be the long release cycle....
Bruce's point wasn't that space travel is gauche, but that many (most) of the folks pushing for space travel with our puny chemical rockets are more in touch with their emotions and dreams than their physics and economics.
Until we either (1) perfect interstellar generation ships or (2) discover new physics, essentially all of us are stuck here on Earth. period. The Cold Equations just don't care. Get over it, and stop making a fool of yourself with this "survival" argument
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*BZZZT*
I know numerous engineering examples, from the Space Shuttle to chemical plants, where the "dumb" computer, uttlerly lacking intuition, outperforms the human.
All that cognition isn't always a benefit: it also makes more mistakes possible. A "dumb" driving algorithm might actually be safer because (1) it doesn't get tired, (2) it doesn't make erroneous assumption, (3) it's performance won't be degraded by emotional state.....
Until we either (1) perfect interstellar generation ships or (2) discover new physics, essentially all of us are stuck here on Earth. period. The Cold Equations just don't care. Get over it, and stop making a fool of yourself with this "survival" argument